Monday, 28 November 2016

TIME TO DIE [2]

That series about great cinema speeches was on the radio
again tonight. One of the greatest; and so, so perspicacious:Terry Southern's mini-masterpiece.

George Hanson: You know, this used to be a helluva good
country. I can’t understand what’s gone wrong with it.

Billy: Man, everybody got chicken, that’s what happened.
Hey, we can’t even get into like, a second-rate hotel, I mean, a second-rate
motel, you dig? They think we’re gonna cut their throat or somethin’. They’re
scared, man.

George Hanson: They’re not scared of you. They’re scared of
what you represent to ’em.

Billy: Hey, man. All we represent to them, man, is somebody
who needs a haircut.

George Hanson: Oh, no. What you represent to them is
freedom.

Billy: What the hell is wrong with freedom? That’s what
it’s all about.

George Hanson: Oh, yeah, that’s right. That’s what’s it’s
all about, all right. But talkin’ about it and bein’ it, that’s two different
things. I mean, it’s real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the
marketplace. Of course, don’t ever tell anybody that they’re not free, ’cause
then they’re gonna get real busy killin’ and maimin’ to prove to you that they
are. Oh, yeah, they’re gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you
about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it’s gonna scare ’em.